grrm.astormofswords-第108节

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stone。　It　was　night　outside。
　His　legs　were　aching　by　the　time　Ser　Axell　thrust　open　a　heavy　door　and　gestured　him　through。　Beyond；　a　high　stone　bridge　arched　over　emptiness　to　the　massive　central　tower　called　the　Stone　Drum。　A　sea　wind　blew　restlessly　through　the　arches　that　supported　the　roof；　and　Davos　could　smell　the　salt　water　as　they　crossed。　He　took　a　deep　breath；　filling　his　lungs　with　the　clean　cold　air。　Wind　and　water；　give　me　strength；　he　prayed。　A　huge　nightfire　burned　in　the　yard　below；　to　keep　the　terrors　of　the　dark　at　bay；　and　the　queen's　men　were　gathered　around　it；　singing　praises　to　their　new　red　god。
　They　were　in　the　center　of　the　bridge　when　Ser　Axell　stopped　suddenly。　He　made　a　brusque　gesture　with　his　hand；　and　his　men　moved　out　of　earshot。　〃Were　it　my　choice；　I　would　burn　you　with　my　brother　Alester；　he　told　Davos。　〃You　are　both　traitors。〃
　〃Say　what　you　will。　I　would　never　betray　King　Stannis。〃
　〃You　would。　You　will。　I　see　it　in　your　face。　And　I　have　seen　it　in　the　flames　as　well。　R'hllor　has　blessed　me　with　that　gift。　Like　Lady　Melisandre；　he　shows　me　the　future　in　the　fire。　Stannis　Baratheon　will　sit　the　Iron　Throne。　I　have　seen　it。　And　I　know　what　must　be　done。　His　Grace　must　make　me　his　Hand；　in　place　of　my　traitor　brother。　And　you　will　tell　him　so。〃
　Will　I？　Davos　said　nothing。
　〃The　queen　has　urged　my　appointment；〃　Ser　Axell　went　on。　〃Even　your　old　friend　from　Lys；　the　pirate　Saan；　he　says　the　same。　We　have　made　a　plan　together；　him　and　me。　Yet　His　Grace　does　not　act。　The　defeat　gnaws　inside　him；　a　black　worm　in　his　soul。　it　is　up　to　us　who　love　him　to　show　him　what　to　do。　If　you　are　as　devoted　to　his　cause　as　you　claim；　smuggler；　you　will　join　your　voice　to　ours。　Tell　him　that　I　am　the　only　Hand　he　needs。　Tell　him；　and　when　we　sail　I　shall　see　that　you　have　a　new　ship。〃
　A　ship。　Davos　studied　the　other　man's　face。　Ser　Axell　had　big　Florent　ears；　much　like　the　queen's。　Coarse　hair　grew　from　them；　as　from　his　nostrils；　more　sprouted　in　tufts　and　patches　beneath　his　double　chin。　His　nose　was　broad；　his　brow　beetled；　his　eyes　close…set　and　hostile。　He　would　sooner　give　me　a　pyre　than　a　ship；　he　said　as　much；　but　if　I　do　him　this　favor　。　。　。
　〃if　you　think　to　betray　me；〃　Ser　Axell　said；　〃pray　remember　that　I　have　been　castellan　of　Dragonstone　a　good　long　time。　The　garrison　is　mine。　Perhaps　I　cannot　burn　you　without　the　king's　consent；　but　who　is　to　say　you　might　not　suffer　a　fall。〃　He　laid　a　meaty　hand　on　the　back　of　Davos's　neck　and　shoved　him　bodily　against　the　waist…high　side　of　the　bridge；　then　shoved　a　little　harder　to　force　his　face　out　over　the　yard。　〃Do　you　hear　me？〃
　〃I　hear；〃　said　Davos。　And　you　dare　name　me　traitor？
　Ser　Axell　released　him。　〃Good。〃　He　smiled。　〃His　Grace　awaits。　Best　we　do　not　keep　him。〃
　At　the　very　top　of　Stone　Drum；　within　the　great　round　room　called　the　Chamber　of　the　Painted　Table；　they　found　Stannis　Baratheon　standing　behind　the　artifact　that　gave　the　hall　its　name；　a　massive　slab　of　wood　carved　and　painted　in　the　shape　of　Westeros　as　it　had　been　in　the　time　of　Aegon　the　Conqueror。　An　iron　brazier　stood　beside　the　king；　its　coals　glowing　a　ruddy　orange。　Four　tall　pointed　windows　looked　out　to　north；　south；　east；　and　west。　Beyond　was　the　night　and　the　starry　sky。　Davos　could　hear　the　wind　moving；　and　fainter；　the　sounds　of　the　sea。
　〃Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Axell　said；　〃as　it　please　you；　I　have　brought　the　onion　knight。〃
　〃So　I　see。〃　Stannis　wore　a　grey　wool　tunic；　a　dark　red　mantle；　and　a　plain　black　leather　belt　from　which　his　sword　and　dagger　hung。　A　red…gold　crown　with　flame…shaped　points　encircled　his　brows。　The　look　of　him　was　a　shock。　He　seemed　ten　years　older　than　the　man　that　Davos　had　left　at　Storm's　End　when　he　set　sail　for　the　Blackwater　and　the　battle　that　would　be　their　undoing。　The　king's　close…cropped　beard　was　spiderwebbed　with　grey　hairs；　and　he　had　dropped　two　stone　or　more　of　weight。　He　had　never　been　a　fleshy　man；　but　now　the　bones　moved　beneath　his　skin　like　spears；　fighting　to　cut　free。　Even　his　crown　seemed　too　large　for　his　head。　His　eyes　were　blue　pits　lost　in　deep　hollows；　and　the　shape　of　a　skull　could　be　seen　beneath　his　face。
　Yet　when　he　saw　Davos；　a　faint　smile　brushed　his　lips。　〃So　the　sea　has　returned　me　my　knight　of　the　fish　and　onions。〃
　〃It　did；　Your　Grace。〃　Does　he　know　that　he　had　me　in　his　dungeon？　Davos　went　to　one　knee。
　〃Rise；　Ser　Davos；〃　Stannis　manded。　〃I　have　missed　you；　ser。　I　have　need　of　good　counsel；　and　you　never　gave　me　less。　So　tell　me　true…what　is　the　penalty　for　treason？〃
　The　word　hung　in　the　air。　A　frightful　word；　thought　Davos。　Was　he　being　asked　to　condemn　his　cellmate？　Or　himself；　perchance？　Kings　know　the　penalty　for　treason　better　than　any　man。　〃Treason？〃　he　finally　managed；　weakly。
　〃What　else　would　you　call　it；　to　deny　your　king　and　seek　to　steal　his　rightful　throne。　I　ask　you　again…what　is　the　penalty　for　treason　under　the　law？〃
　Davos　had　no　choice　but　to　answer。　〃Death；〃　he　said。　〃The　penalty　is　death；　Your　Grace。〃
　〃It　has　always　been　so。　I　am　not　。　。　。　I　am　not　a　cruel　man；　Ser　Davos。　You　know　me。　Have　known　me　long。　This　is　not　my　decree。　It　has　always　been　so；　since　Aegon's　day　and　before。　Daemon　Blackfyre；　the　brothers　Toyne；　the　Vulture　King；　Grand　Maester　Hareth　。　。　。　traitors　have　always　paid　with　their　lives　。　。　。　even　Rhaenyra　Targaryen。　She　was　daughter　to　one　king　and　mother　to　two　more；　yet　she　died　a　traitor's　death　for　trying　to　usurp　her　brother's　crown。　It　is　law。　Law；　Davos。　Not　cruelty。〃
　〃Yes；　Your　Grace。〃　He　does　not　speak　of　me。　Davos　felt　a　moment's　pity　for　his　cellmate　down　in　the　dark。　He　knew　he　should　keep　silent；　but　he　was　tired　and　sick　of　heart；　and　he　heard　himself　say；　〃Sire；　Lord　Florent　meant　no　treason。〃
　〃Do　smugglers　have　another　name　for　it？　I　made　him　Hand；　and　he　would　have　sold　my　rights　for　a　bowl　of　pease　porridge。　He　would　even　have　given　them　Shireen。　Mine　only　child；　he　would　have　wed　to　a　bastard　born　of　incest。〃　The　king's　voice　was　thick　with　anger。　〃My　brother　had　a　gift　for　inspiring　loyalty。　Even　in　his　foes。　At　Surnmerhall　he　won　three　battles　in　a　single　day；　and　brought　Lords　Grandison　and　Cafferen　back　to　Storm's　End　as　prisoners。　He　hung　their　banners　in　the　hall　as　trophies。　Cafferen's　white　fawns　were　spotted　with　blood　and　Grandison's　sleeping　lion　was　torn　near　in　two。　Yet　they　would　sit　beneath　those　banners　of　a　night；　drinking　and　feasting　with　Robert。　He　even　took　them　hunting。
　'These　men　meant　to　deliver　you　to　Aerys　to　be　burned；'　I　told　him　after　I　saw　them　throwing　axes　in　the　yard。　'You　should　not　be　putting　axes　in　their　hands。'　Robert　only　laughed。　I　would　have　thrown　Grandison　and　Cafferen　into　a　dungeon；　but　he　turned　them　into　friends。　Lord　Cafferen　died　at　Ashford　Castle；　cut　down　by　Randyll　Tarly　whilst　fighting　for　Robert。　Lord　Grandison　was　wounded　on　the　Trident　and　died　of　it　a　year　after。　My　brother　made　them　love　him；　but　it　would　seem　that　I　inspire　only　betrayal。　Even　in　mine　own　blood　and　kin。　Brother；　grandfather；　cousins；　good　uncle　。　。　。〃
　〃Your　Grace；〃　said　Ser　Axell；　〃I　beg　you；　give　me　the　chance　to　prove　to　you　that　not　all　Florents　are　so　feeble。〃
　〃Ser　Axell　would　have　me　resume　the　war；〃　King　Stannis　told　Davos。　〃The　Lannisters　think　I　am　done　and　beaten；　and　my　swom　lords　have　forsaken　me；　near　every　one。　Even　Lord　Estermont；　my　own　mother's　father；　has　bent　his　knee　to　Joffrey。　The　few　loyal　men　who　remain　to　me　are　losing　heart。　They　waste　their　days　drinking　and　gambling；　and　lick　their　wounds　like　beaten　curs。〃
　〃Battle　will　set　their　hearts　ablaze　once　more；　Your　Grace；〃　Ser　Axell　said。　〃Defeat　is　a　disease；　and　victory　is　the　cure。〃
　〃Victory。〃　The　king's　mouth　twisted。　〃There　are　victories　and　victories；　ser。　But　tell　your　plan　to　Ser　Davos。　I　would　hear　his　views　on　what　you　propose。〃
　Ser　Axell　turned　to　Davos；　with　a　look　on　his　face　much　like　the　look　that　proud　Lord　Belgrave　must　have　worn；　the　day　King　Baelor　the　Blessed　had　manded　him　to　wash　the　beggar's　ulcerous　feet。　Nonetheless；　he　obeyed。
　The　plan　Ser　Axell　had　devised　with　Salladhor　Saan　was　simple。　A　few　hours'　sail　from　Dragonstone　lay　Claw　Isle；　ancient　sea…girt　seat　of　House　Celtigar。　Lord　Ardrian　Celtigar　had　fought　beneath　the　flery　heart　on　the　Blackwater；　but　once　taken；　he　had　wasted　no　time　in　going　over　to　Joffrey。　He　remained　in　King's　Landing　even　now。　〃Too　frightened　of　His　Grace's　wrath　to　e　near　Dragonstone；　no　doubt；〃　Ser　Axell　declared。　〃And　wisely　so。　The　man　has　betrayed　his　rightful　king。〃
　Ser　Axell　proposed　to　use　Salladhor　Saan's　fleet　and　the　men　who　had　escaped　the　Blackwater…Stannis　still　had　some　fifteen　hundred　on　Dragonstone；　more　than　half　of　them　Florents…to　exact　retribution　for　Lord　Celtigar's　defection。　Claw　Isle　was　but　lightly　garrisoned；　its　castle　reputedly　stuffed　with　Myrish　carpets；　Volantene　glass；　gold　and　silver　plate；　jeweled　cups；　magnificent　hawks；　an　axe　of　Valyrian　steel；　a　horn　that　could　summon　monsters　from　the　deep；　chests　of　rubies；　and　more　wines　than　a　man　could　drink　in　a　hundred　years。　Though　Celtigar　had　shown　the　world　a　niggardly　face；　he　had　never　stinted　on　his　own　forts。　〃Put　his　castle　to　the　torch　and　his　people　to　the　sword；　I